Grand jury indicts ex-LCPD officer accused in drug-sex probe

LAS CRUCES - A former Las Cruces police officer accused of trading drugs for sexual favors while in uniform was indicted by a Doña Ana County grand jury on Thursday, court records show.

Former Las Cruces Police Department Sgt. Alex Smith, 32, is charged with trafficking methamphetamine by distribution, a second-degree felony, and conspiracy to commit trafficking, a third-degree felony, according to an indictment filed Thursday in 3rd Judicial District Court in Las Cruces.

The Sun-News reported last month that Smith, a seven-year veteran with LCPD, was the target of a drug investigation that led to his resignation on June 9.

Documents obtained by the Sun-News revealed that Smith was suspected of giving a substance believed to be methamphetamine to a woman on June 2 while in full uniform and wearing a badge.

The same woman, in a recorded conversation, also described Smith as her drug “connect” and boasted that she had performed sexual favors for him in exchange for drugs, according to the documents.

The indictment alleges that Smith “conspired with and provided methamphetamine to a female acquaintance.” It further alleges that he had met the woman several years ago in his capacity as a police officer after he responded to a “domestic incident wherein she was the alleged victim.”

LCPD Chief Jaime Montoya said in a statement Thursday that Smith “did not live up” to the mission, values and ethics of the department, like "the majority (of officers) do."

“(W)e will do everything possible to rid the ranks of law enforcement of any officer that does not live up to our standards,” Montoya said in the statement.

Smith has been ordered to appear for arraignment on Dec. 19 in 3rd Judicial District Court.